U.S consumers spent $2 billion on online content in 2005, according to the latest “Online Paid Content U.S Market Spending Report” from the Online Publishers Association.

The 15 percent growth compared to 2004 was largely driven by consumer content spending in the Entertainment/Lifestyle category, which experienced a massive 39 percent growth in sales ($574 million) and exceeded all other categories including the previous top category, Personals/Dating ($503 million).

U.S Consumer Spending on Online Content in 2005

Source: Online Publishers Association/comscore Networks Inc., March 2006

For the first time ever, average consumer spending reached the $100 mark in 2005, with single purchase sales reaching a new high of $442 million, an increase of 61 percent from 2004. This growth has been primarily driven by online music sales, which supports the current trend that consumers are increasingly using the Internet for entertainment.

Not only this, but the number of consumers paying for online content continues to grow steadily, from 19 million consumers in Q4 2004, to 20.6 million consumers in Q4 2005, showing positive signs for continual growth in the future.